Classics Club: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë Review

Summary: Emily Brontë’s only novel, Wuthering Heights remains one of literature’s most disturbing explorations into the dark side of romantic passion. Heathcliff and Cathy believe they’re destined to love each other forever, but when cruelty and snobbery separate them, their untamed emotions literally consume them.

Set amid the wild and stormy Yorkshire moors, Wuthering Heights, an unpolished and devastating epic of childhood playmates who grow into soul mates, is widely regarded as the most original tale of thwarted desire and heartbreak in the English language.

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My Thoughts: I really enjoyed Wuthering Heights.  It was a bit tough to get into at the start, but once Nelly started her narrative it really picked up.  The plot isn’t super action-packed, but it isn’t about that.  It’s about the amazing characters, who are all super flawed and are quite frankly, not great people.  I loved Catherine and her feisty, spoiled nature, and even though that wins over her heart, I loved her relationship with Heathcliff.  Heathcliff got dealt a really terrible life, and while he is an absolutely despicable human being, especially in the latter half of the book, you can’t help but feel for him which is crazy.  Their last scene together is unbelievable, and probably one of my favorite literary scenes of all time.  From that point on, I loved the book.  The story continuing with Young Catherine and Heathcliff’s revenge was so engaging and maddening to read- I couldn’t put it down.  I despised Linton and could not understand the appeal, other than finally having a companion, to Young Catherine.  I really enjoyed how everything wrapped up in the end though and felt it was resolved really well.  The only thing keeping this from being a 5 star read for me, is that I wish we would have seen more between Cathy and Heathcliff to build up their love and passion at the beginning.  It was implied, but I would have liked to have a few more scenes between them so I could feel their passion, rather than just being told it exists.